Pune, Mar 13 (PTI) A video of a `godman' purportedly
performing rituals on a 25-year-old woman patient in the
intensive care unit of a reputed private hospital here went
viral on social media today.

The woman died of multiple organ failure yesterday
morning.

Sandhya Sonawane, the woman, had approached Dr Satish
Chavan, who runs a private hospital, to get treatment for a
lump in her chest, one of her relatives told PTI.

"Dr Chavan advised a surgery to remove the lump and as
per the advise, Sandhya underwent the surgery. However, her
condition deteriorated and she was admitted to Deenanath
Mangeshkar Hospital," he said.

While Sandhya was in ICU, on March 11 Dr Chavan
brought along a godman, who performed some rituals, the
relative claimed.

"This man took out some items from his bag and waved
them from her head to toe while chanting something. We didn't
have any prior knowledge about it, so we recorded the whole
incident on mobile," he added.

The hospital management said its staff had no role in
the entire episode.

"Neither the concerned doctor is associated with the
hospital, nor any of our staff was involved in the entire
episode," said an official from Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital.

Sandhya died of multiple organ failure on Monday, the
hospital official said.

Members of the Maharashtra Andha-shraddha Nirmulan
Samiti (Maharashtra Superstition Eradication Committee) today
approached the Alankar police station here and sought a case
against the doctor under the `Maharashtra Prevention and
Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and
Aghori Practises and Black Magic Act'.

"We are in the process of recording the statement of
the deceased's brother. As per the statement, a case will be
registered," senior inspector Rekha Salunke of the police
station said.

Dr Chavan was not immediately available for comment.

His family members said he needed some more time to put out
his side of the story.